Change-speed or selective gearing



Nov. 5, 19404. K slNcLAlR 2,220,146?? CHANGE-SPEED OR SELECTIVE GEARING Filed July 22, 1959 Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED s TArEs gA'reNr OFFICE Application July 22, 1939, seria1No.2s5,9ss In Great Britain December 30, 1938 6 Claims.

This invention relates to multi-speed gearing (which expression includes both change-speed and selective gearing) of the kind comprising a gear-selecting jaw-clutch and an operators control member operable for meshing together the two toothed members of the clutch.

By selective gearing is meant a gearing, such as is employed for instance in 'cranes and excavators, wherein different outputI members, which are not necessarily arranged to rotate at different speeds for a given speed of the. driving member, can be selectively coupledto the driving member.

Such-gearing can be simple and robust, but it is subject to the drawback that, if the operator l5 attempts to engage the jaw clutch while the gearing is running without first taking care that the speeds of the two toothed members of the clutch are substantially synchronised, either the' two sets of teeth will be forcibly grated over each other or a crash engagement of the teeth will occur, with consequent undue wear and tear on the gearing and associated mechanism.

The object of this invention. is to provide simple and effective means for assisting the operator in avoiding suchgrating or crashing, which means are especially suitable foruse in connection with machines subject to jolting or lurching, such as in change-speed gearing of tractors and locomotivesand in change-speed or selective gearing of cranes and excavators. n

According to this invention, the improved multi-speed gearing of the kind set forth comprises means for introducing a resistance to movement of the operators gear control member in the engaging direction at the point in its movement Where the two toothed members will clatter lightly over each other on relative rotation but are incapableof positively meshing together, the connection between the control member and the clutchbeing of such a kind that this clattering will produce in the -control member', a vibration, reduction in the frequency of which indicates to the operator an approach to synchronism of the speeds of ,the two toothed members. Such clattering may be due to light contact between the inter-engageable teeth of the jawclutch members, these teeth having their ends so shaped as to resist inter-meshing when the toothed members are rotating relatively to each other in either direction. Alternatively the clattering may be brought about by an auxiliary resilient tooth whicnforms a part of one of the toothed members and which is adapted to cooperate with either the main teeth or an auxiliary tooth on the other of the toothed members.

The invention will be further described, by Way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectionalside elevation of a twospeed gear embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a part of the gearing as seen in Fig. 1, but in diierent configuration,

Fig. 4 is a developed view of an` alternative form of jaw clutch teeth, and 10 Fig. 5 is a section of a part of a further modication of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

The gearing shown in Fig. v1l is generally of conventional design and it may be connected through a main clutch to a driving motor. Thismain 15 clutch is conveniently a hydraulic coupling having a rotary reservoir and a scoop device in the reservoir capable in one condition of being inoperative and in another condition of transferringliquid from the reservoir tothe working circuit 20 of the coupling and to a control duct of a. hydraulically actuated circuit-emptying valve. A coupling oi this kind is shown in Fig. 4 of the specication of patent application No.- 199,901 filed April 4, 1938, now Patent No. 2,187,667. 25

The gearing has an input shaft I0 rigid with an input pinion II and jaw-clutch teeth I2. Av driven gear wheel I3 provided with jaw-clutch teeth Ill is journalled on and incapable of sliding along an output shaft I5. A vsliding jaw 30 clutch member I6 has teethll and I8 engageable respectively with the teeth I2 and I4 as the member I6 is moved one side and the other of the neutral position which it occupies in Fig. 1. The gear wheels I I and i3 mesh respectively with gear 35 wheels I9 and 20 fast on a countershaft 2|. The sliding clutch member I6 is actuated by a striking yoke 22 formed on a selector rod 23 controlled by an operators control lever 24.

The jaw-clutches preferably have coarse-pitch 40 teeth. For example each element may have only two teeth, as shown in Fig. 2. One element of each jaw clutch--for example the two gear wheels--is provided with an auxiliary feeler tooth whichis displaceable relative to the main teeth 45 in the engaging direction. These auxiliary teeth are formedby plungers 25A and 25B slidable respectively in axial holes in a tooth I2 and a tooth I4. The plungers have heads 26 located in enlarged bores 21 in the wheels and loaded by 50 springs 28 retained by plugs 29, in such a manner that, when one or other of the clutches is disengaged, the rounded end 30 of the associated plunger protrudes above the end of the tooth.

'Ihe selector rod 23 is locatedby a plunger 3I 55 having a rounded nose 34 and slidable in abore 32 in the gear casing .under the influence of a spring 33. The selector rod is -provided with a low-speed notch 38 and a high-speed notch 36 of ordinary design. The neutral notch 36 is longer than the diameter of the plunger 3| and its base is formed bytwo slightly sloping portions meeting at a central recess 35, its length being suchias to permit a limited range of 'lightly restrained movement to the'selector rod, between -positions where the ends 31A and 31B of the notch 36 are engaged respectively with thelocati ing plunger 3I.

This mechanism operates as follows. It will be assumed that the gearing has been running on direct drive, with the teeth I2 and I1 engaged together, and that it is desired to change to low.

of the notch 36 'is in contact with the end 34 of the locating plunger 3l, whereby a substantial.

resistance is introduced to further movementof the control lever. 'I'he length and disposition of the notch 36 are such that in this condition the teeth I8 will clatter lightly over the end 36 of the fe'eler plunger 25B, as the speed of the clutch member is higher than that of the gear wheel I3, this clattering producing a vibration in the control lever 24. The operator now operates other controls (for example re-engages the main clutch and accelerates the driving engine) so as to accelerate the shaft I0 and with it the wheel I3, with the result that the frequency of the vibration of the lever 24 decreases. As this frequency becomes zero, the operator applies to the lever-24 an increased force sufficient to overcome the said resistance by forcing the locating plunger 3| down the end 31B of the notch 36 and into the notch 38, the teeth I4 and I8 now being fully engaged together.

The change from low gear to direct drive is made similarly, the end 31A of the notch 36 engaging the locating plunger 3| and restraining the selector rod in a position such that the feeler plunger 25A clatters lightly over the teeth I'I.

In a modification of the arrangement just described the plungers 25A and 25B are omitted and at least one tooth of one' of each pair' of toothed members'is provided with a convex end, that is to say of rounded or ridged shape, projecting beyond the torque-transmitting flanks of Yall the teeth on that member. As shown'in Fig.

4, for example, the teeth I4 have slightly convex ends, while the teeth I8 have squared ends. The

selector notch in this case is arranged to restrain movement of the jaw clutch member I6 in the' provided, it may co-operate with a projection or serrations formed on or xed for rotation with the mating toothed member and distinct from the' jaw-clutch teeth thereon, and in the follow- Thus in Fig. 5, the sliding jaw-clutch ymember II6 has teeth IIB engageable with the cut-down ends II4 of the teeth of the gear wheel II3. An auxiliary feeler tooth formed as a plunger I 25 loaded by a spring I 28 is slidablyvmounted in the member II6 and co-operates with a relatively small number of serrations 50 formed on the side of the wheel H3. When the member IIB is moved bythe control lever, as hereinbefore described, towards the wheel I I3, it is restrained by the locating plunger of the selecting mechanism in a position suchl that the end of the feeler `plunger |25 clatters lightly over the serrations said two toothed members will clatter lightly n over each other on relative rotation but are in- 50 while the teeth II4 and III are still disengaged. When the jaw clutch engages fully, the plunger is forced back through the member vI I6.

Iclaim:

1. In a multi-speed gearing, a gear-selecting jaw clutch having two toothed members, an operators gear control member operable for mesh; ing together said two toothed members, and means for introducing a resistance to movement of said control member in the clutch engaging direction at the point in its movement where .notch for restraining movement of saidcontrol member within a neutral range, said means providing at most a relatively lightly restrained movement of said control member to a point, in its movement in the clutch-engaging direction, where said two toothed members will clatter lightly over each other on relative rotation but are incapable of positively meshing together while said notch and projection are still engaged together, the connection between said con, trol member and one of said toothed members being of such a kind that this clattering will produce in the control member a vibration, reduc-V tion in the frequency ofwhich indicates to the operator an approach to synchronism of the speeds of said toothed members, and the control member being capable of movement beyond said point in consequence of application by the operator of an increased force sumcient to disengage said projection from said notch and to mesh said two toothed members positively together.

3. In a multi-speed gearing, a gear-selecting jaw clutch having two toothed members which are capable of being meshed together and one of which has a tooth provided with a convex end projecting beyond the torque-transmitting flanks of all the teethof the same member, an operators gear control member for meshing together said toothed members, and means for introducing a resistance to movement of said control member in the clutch engaging direction at a point 'in its movement where said convex tooth end will clatter lightly over the teeth of the other 'toothed member on relative rotation, the connection between said control member and one of said toothed members being of such a kind that this clattering will produce in the control member a vibration, reduction in the frequency of which indicates to the operator an approach to synchronism of the speeds of said two toothed members.

4. In multi-speed gearing, a gear-selecting jaw clutch having two toothed members, an operators gear control member operable for meshing together said two toothed members, an auxiliary tooth dsplaceably mounted on one of said toothed members and capable of engaging a tooth on the other of said toothed members, and means for introducing a resistance to movement of said control member in the clutch engaging direction at the point in its movement Where s aid auxiliary tooth will clatter lightly over said tooth on the other of said toothed members but where said toothed members are incapable of positively meshing together, the connection between said control member and one of said toothed members being of such'a kind that this clattering will produce in the control member a vibration, reduction in the frequency of which indicates to the operator an approach to synchronism of the speeds of said toothed members.

5. In multi-speed gearing, a gear-selecting jaw clutch having two toothed members which are capable of being meshed together, and shifting mechanism including an operators control member for actuating one of said toothed members and also including locating means which relatively lightly restrain said control member in a neutral position and which more strongly restrain said control member, upon movement of the latter in the clutch engaging sense, at a point in its movement Where said two toothed members will clatter over each other on relative rotation but will be incapable of positively meshing together, said shifting mechanism being capable of producing in response to such clattering a vibration in said control member serving as a synchronizing signal to the operator.

I 6. In multi-speed gearinghaving a. gear case, a gear-selecting jaw clutch having two co-operating toothed members, a selector operable for shifting one of said toothed members, locating means for said selector including an elongated notch in said selector and a locating member resiliently mounted in' sald gear case for co-operation with said notch, said notch having a recess positioned to accommodate a part of said locating member when said selector is in the neutral position, and an end of said notch being so positioned as to abut against a part of said locating member when said selector is in position to permit said toothed members on their relative rotation to clatter over each other without positive engagement, and an operators control'rnember connected to said selector by 'means capable of transmitting a vibration to said control member in response to such clattering of the jaw clutch.

HAROLD SINCLAIR. 

